[Friday is the Shavuot holyday in Israel, so this alert was finished the day before. Thus any major events between Thursday mid-day and Friday, are not included here. (Now, if I were a prophet…!) ]

1. Praise:

   Israel celebrates Shavuot [lit. Weeks] today, also known as Pentecost. The rabbis teach that on this day Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. It is also the day when God's Spirit was poured out on the early disciples (Acts 2). We praise God for His Word and His Spirit as both are needed for our spiritual maturity and usefulness in His kingdom.

   • We praise You Abba that as we look back, we can confess with King David that often Your Spirit spoke to us and placed Your Word in our mouths (2 Sam. 23:2).

   • Bless You Lord for telling us that if we respond to Your rebuke with repentance, then You will pour out Your Spirit upon us and make Your words known to us (Prov. 1:23).

   • God of Isaiah, we thank You that as part of Your promised covenant with Israel, and thus also with us, Your Spirit and Your Word will not depart from us or our descendants (Isa. 59:21).

   • Messiah Yeshua, we agree and have proven that Your words – they are spirit and life (John 6:63).

   • Lord God, we thank You for the only offensive weapon that You have given to us – the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17b).

2. Government & society:

   On Wednesday the Knesset – Israel's Parliament votes to dissolve the current government and go to new elections. Although there are various bureaucratic steps that still need to take place, supposedly by next week Israelis will know whether the elections will be in early September or mid-October. Our response is to continue in prayer for the outcome.

   • King Messiah, specifically guide us, and many others in Your Body worldwide, as to how to pray for Israel's current political situation and for the upcoming elections (Isa. 55:8-9).

   • Abba Father, unless You build the house all of man's labors are in vain (Psa. 127:1); arise and be actively "building" the next Israeli government so that it brings You all of the glory (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • Lord God, release Your light and truth and guide Israelis on how they should vote (Psa. 43:3a).

   • Lord, forbid the current government to now govern based only on what is beneficial for their political futures and not what is best for Your people Israel (Psa. 148:13-14; Prov. 27:23).

   • God, gift all current coalition ministers with wise and godly advisors (Prov. 17:17; 18:24; 27:6).

   • God of Jacob, honor all Israeli ministers who are doing Your will, and make them very influential in the next government: Justice Minister Levin; Defense Minister Katz; Foreign Minister Sa'ar; Finance Minister Smotrich; Public Security Minister Ben-Gvir; Interior Minister Sofer; Diaspora Affairs and Anti-Semitism Minister Chikli; Israel's UN Ambassador Danon; and all the others who are proving themselves to be true sons and daughters of Zion (Zech. 9:13).

   • Lord, also set sons of Issachar throughout Israel's political and military leadership (1 Chr. 12:32).

3. Foreign relations:

   Habakkuk 3:2 in Shabbat's prophetic reading should strike a deep chord in the hearts of believers who reside in nations that are either false friends or outright enemies of Israel: YHWH, I have heard Your speech, and was afraid: YHWH, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. (Hab. 3:2)

   • God of Jacob, increase the influence of Your opinion in the hearts and minds of Israel's leaders and its people, and diminish the influence of the opinion of the world (Deut. 30:19-20; Isa. 30:30).

   • Lord God, let the increased hatred of Israel force it to dwell alone (Num. 23:9b), and reveal to all Israelis that You have forbidden them from being a nation like any other nation (Ezek. 20:32-38).

   • King of kings, guard over the relationship between Netanyahu and US President Trump and forbid him from conceding on all that is essential for Your kingdom's goals concerning Israel (Dan. 2:21).

   • Abba, let Israel's renown stubbornness come out when Israel does what is right in Your eyes, like approving a death penalty against terrorists, despite the world's reaction (Num. 35:16-18, 30-31).

   • Lord Yeshua, use Israeli diplomats to warn Western leaders that Arabs and Muslims do not see life as do those raised with a Judeo-Christian background (1 Cor. 15:41).

   • King Messiah, show believers the link between the gross darkness overtaking nations (Isa. 60:2) and their leaders, people, and even churches cursing and/or betraying Your nation (Num. 24:9b).

4. Gaza:

   The IDF continues to fight Hamas but it is handcuffed by Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza. Yet at this time, Trump and his "Board of Peace" are frustrated and angry with Hamas who agree to disarm last year but has since reneged and refuse to do that and to vacate Gaza. Only the IDF has the skill courage, and motivation to deal with this demonic terrorist organization.

   • Lord God, if their hatred of Israel has resulted in You putting a deceiving spirit over the West, let the Body of Messiah discern this and to pray for their birth-nations (Rom. 1:28; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

   • King of kings, arise and confound all those nations on Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" who are either openly or secretly enemies of Israel (Psa. 129:5; 144:7-8; Isa. 33:7).

   • Lord God, You alone cause wars to cease and disarm the enemy, so forbid this war from ending until You have done exactly that to Hamas and to Islamic Jihad (Psa. 46:9; Ezek. 39:3; Mic. 4:3; 5:10).

   • God Almighty, let Hamas' pride drag them down into destruction (2 Sam. 22:28b; Prov. 16:18).

   • God of Jacob, arise and fulfill that which You threatened to do to Gaza in Amos 1:6-7.

   • We thank You Lord for the IDF destroying terror tunnels under the area in Gaza they control, which is now 60%, for finding weapons caches and for killing Hamas terrorists, including last week's strike against the last Hamas leader of the Oct. 7th massacre (Job 12:22; Psa. 95:4; 139:12).

   • Eternal Commander, remove from the IDF's leadership all sons of Greece so that Israel can fight for total victory without being hindered by the humanistic leanings of men (Psa. 44:4-6; Matt. 16:23).

   • Shield of Abraham, protect the minds and hearts of each IDF soldier who is stationed in Gaza, both the veterans and the new recruits – many of whom are still teenagers (Gen. 15:1; Psa. 89:18).

   • God of Isaac, if this war will not end until Israel repossesses all of Gaza, reveal this to Your people and make them and Israel's leaders zealous to do just that (Judg. 2:1-4; Psa. 80:3; Prov. 16:9).

   • King Yeshua, protect Your Body in Gaza and use them to draw many Muslims to You (Luke 10:2)!

5. Internal security:

   Only once in God's Word does He say He will do something with all of His heart and soul. It is Israel's restoration to the land (Jer. 32:41), and is being fulfilled today. This is also tied in with Israel's salvation (32:37-40)! Israel possessing its God-gifted land (Obad. 1:17-20) is central to His end-time plans and should be a major prayer burden for Messiah's Body.

   • Lord Yeshua, change the thinking of any believers who do not understand or just refuse to accept how vital the physical land of Israel is to Your Kingdom coming on earth (Zech. 12:2-9; 14:1-4).

   • Abba Father, burden more believers to pray for Israel to possess its land (Judg. 2:1-4), teaching them that this is not political, but prophetic, and is for Your name's sake (Ezek. 36:34-36; 37:14).

   • We praise You Lord God for telling us in Isaiah 60:21 that You gave Your land to Your people for Your glory; thus we ask You to bring it to fulfillment swiftly (Psa. 115:1-3; Isa. 55:11; 60:22).

   • God, by Your Spirit, make Your people as jealous over Your land as You (Ezek. 36:5-15).

   • God of Israel, as You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), arise and destroy all plans to create a "Palestine" on it – especially from Israel's so-called "friends" (Psa. 125:3; Zech. 14:1-3).

   • Lord God of Israel, use the illegal buildings the EU has built for Palestinians in Area C, as homes for Jews who make aliyah and resettle in Your land (Deut. 6:10-11; Josh. 24:13).

   • Thank You Abba for increasing the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria, and we ask You to do the same in the Negev, the Galilee, the north and also on the Golan (Isa. 49:19-20; 51:3).

   • God of wisdom, sharpen the security people who keep tabs on what is being planned against Israel on social media and give them great discernment to recognize the real threats (2 Sam. 21:10).

   • Almighty King, break the humanistic chains off the IDF, and release it war against terrorism in Your land in a biblical fashion, including by asking You to lead them into battle (Psa. 18:36-40).

   • King Messiah, as the Palestinian Authority is part of Israel's problem, divide them internally and set them and Hamas against each other in Judea, Samaria and in Gaza (Job 38:13; Psa. 35:4, 26).

   • Almighty God, uncover and stop all Israeli-Arab terrorist plans against the Jews (Psa. 34:16).

   • God of gods, use Israel's extension of sovereignty to shame Muslims who see Your land as "wakf territory" – Allah's land forever – and use that shame to cause many to seek You (Psa. 83:16).

6. External security:

   The headlines about America and Iran and America, Israel and Lebanon change almost daily. We need to guard ourselves from spiritual whiplash as how we pray into these dangerous situations today can be very different from how we need to pray tomorrow. The good from all of this is that we are "forced" to trust in God's Word and what He has revealed as being His will and to not trust in man's words or threats or demands.

   • Lord God, Your promises and reputation/name are at stake if Israel is destroyed (Ex. 32:11-13), so burden more believers to ask You to arise and scatter Your/Israel's enemies (Psa. 68:1; 83:1-18).

   • Messiah Yeshua, wake up American believers to the danger their president is placing Israel in by first stopping Israel from defeating its enemies – Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran – and then by foolishly trying to negotiate with these demonic foes who desire to destroy Your nation (Num. 23;9b).

   • Lord God, as Habakkuk 3:12 in the prophetic portion seems up-to-date concerning Your fury with nations who are manipulating or openly attacking Your nation today, please stir up the Body to stand in the gap crying out for mercy (Ezek. 22:30-31).

   • Abba Father, restore the concept of "victory" to Israel in this day (Psa. 144:1, 10).

   • Lord of all, reinforce the angelic hosts fighting beside Israel's army (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8).

   • Iran: Command Israel and America to "finish the job" and destroy the Iranian regime (Jer. 49:38b)!

   • Lord God, as negotiations between the US and Iran are consistently being drawn out, show Trump and his aides that Iran is a master at stalling for time in order to rearm (Eccl. 3:8).

   • Lord, use the US blockade of the Strait of Hurmuz to hasten the bankruptcy of Iran's current leaders and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp [IRGC] and so remove them both from their merciless rule over the Iranian people (Prov. 28:15; Isa. 41:45).

   • God, as with the Chaldeans, let the Iranian regime be overrun and destroyed suddenly (Dan. 5:30).

   • Sovereign Lord, Psalm 46:9 states that it is You who causes wars to cease, so we ask You to do that in relation to this US-Israel war against Iran's radical Islamic Shi'ite regime (Psa. 76:3-6; Mic. 5:10).

   • King of kings, let Iran's deadly missile attacks against its neighboring Arab nations divide the house of Islam, and use that to bring down this demonic principality over the Middle East (Mark 3:24-26).

   • Messiah, guide our Iranian brothers and sisters with divine wisdom as they intercede (Job 12:13).

   • Hizbullah in Lebanon: Speak Lord, and break Hizbullah, today's proud cedars of Lebanon (Psa. 29:5; Isa. 2:12-13).

   • God, guide Israel to more effectively use its Iron Beam Laser weapon, or any other weapons, against the drones Hizbullah uses to kill and wound many IDF soldiers (Psa. 18:34, 39).

   • As captured Hizbullah terrorists share how they are pressured to fight Israel, Lord God, let massive numbers surrender perceiving that Israel is much more merciful than their leaders (1 Kin. 20:31).

   • Lord Messiah, show the Lebanese Body that if their government continues cursing Israel then any attempts by them to set Lebanon free of Hizbullah is just worthless (Gen. 27:29b; Jer. 10:25).

   • Lord, we thank You that Israel has created a buffer zone in South Lebanon and ask that it remains under Israel, as it is most definitely a part of the Promised Land (Deut. 11:24; Josh. 19:24, 31-32, 39).

   • Other: God, expose Syria's and Turkey's anti-Western actions to Trump and other Western leaders, and continue to show Israel that they are treacherous enemy nations (Psa. 28:3; Prov. 12:20a).

   • Lord God, use Turkey's wicked President Erdogan for Your glory as You did with Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and many other wicked leaders throughout history (Ex. 9:16; Eccl. 8:8b; Rom. 9:17).

   • Abba Father, we bless You for answering our prayers as the war is damaging both Qatar's economy and its influence among the Arab Gulf States, as well as with America (Mic. 6:15; Hag. 1:6).

   • Lord, by Your Spirit, direct the prayers of all Middle Eastern believers so that they stand in the gap for their birth-nations and bless the nation into which they are grafted – Israel (Rom. 11:18-21).

7. Aliyah:

   We are very privileged to see God fulfill His Word and regather His scattered people (Jer. 31:10). Yet we, as Messiah's Body, also have a responsibility to be actively involved with this prophetic fulfillment (for example Isa. 43:5-6; 60:10-11), including by intercession (1 John 5:14-15).

   • Lord Messiah, help believers to see that aliyah is a literal answer to a 2,000 year old prayer for God the Father's name be sanctified – through His will being done on earth (Ezek. 28:25-26; Luke 11:2).

   • Good Shepherd, speak directly to many more gentile believers to help carry Your Jewish family back home today, whether physically, financially, or through prayer (Isa. 49:22).

   • Lord Yeshua, gift us with very precise prayers that can break the spiritual chains which bind Your people as prisoners in "the captivity" among the gentile nations (Psa. 124:7-8).

   • God of Isaac, as many Jews are afraid to live in Israel, show them that living in the nations today is also very dangerous and that the chances of gentile security forces laying their lives down to guard Jews is a lot less than Israel's security forces who do that on a daily basis (Psa. 38:12).

   • Almighty King, break apart the cages holding Your people in the captivity: true or deceptive comfort and security; too much or too little finances; fear from false media reports about Israel; a real concern of major life changes; an inflated fear of children serving in the IDF; family members who refuse to return; thinking that they are too old or too infirm; etc. (Prov. 3:5-6).

   • God of Jacob, reveal to Jews in the West that they can either save their lifestyles or their life and the lives of their loved ones if they "flee" from today's "Babylon" (Jer. 30:10; 46:27).

   • King of Israel, focus Israel's diplomatic outreach to the Jews in the nations towards aliyah and away from helping them to remain "safe and secure" in "the captivity" (Deut. 28:65-67; Psa. 107:1-9).

   • Abba Father, release divine wisdom and help to Israel as it develops emergency plans to receive a large number of Jews who will need to flee home in a short span of time (Isa. 11:11-12).

   • God of Israel, remove any bureaucrat in Israel's Interior Ministry and the Jewish Agency who is at best lukewarm about aliyah, and replace them with those who are as zealous as You (Zech. 8:1-8).

8. Salvation:

   Romans 11:26 states that all Israel will be saved! "All Israel" in context means a remnant of His people (Rom. 9:27; 11:5; cp. Jer. 31:7). We believe that our prayers can increase that remnant as: 1) God does not want any to perish (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and 2) the Lord Yeshua told us to pray for Him to send forth laborers into the harvest (Luke 10:2).

   • King Messiah, burden Your Body to persistently pray for Israel's salvation (Rom. 10:1; 11:26).

   • Lord Yeshua, open modern Jacob's eyes to recognize Your glory among gentile believers, and then use that to provoke many Jews to jealousy (Gen. 45:13; Rom. 11:11).

   • God of Israel, fulfill Zechariah 12:10 by pouring out that Spirit of grace upon Your people living in the land, and turn many to look unto, that is to trust in, Your Son (Psa. 2:11-12; Acts 19:20).

   • Lord God, as You have done many times in the Scriptures, like with Paul, redeem many of Your people suddenly and dramatically (Acts 2:37; 9:3-6).

   • Lord Yeshua, save a huge remnant of Holocaust survivors and families; survivors of terrorism; hostages and loved ones; IDF soldiers and families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely injured; Israelis with PTSD; medical personnel; widows, widowers, orphans, traumatized children; politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; university students, teachers, professors; astronomers, scientists; rabbis and Jewish anti-missionaries; Jews in Judea and Samaria; Jews on their death beds; Jews with shame over past abortions; Israeli archeologists and tour guides; Israelis in the nations; Jews who just made aliyah; alcoholics, drug-addicts, hippies, LGBTQ+, new agers; Jews in Iran, Ethiopia, Turkey, India, and China; Jews married to gentile believers; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

9. Body of Messiah:

   Last week's direction of prayer for the Body is so vital at this time that it is worth repeating. We need to be zealous to proclaim the truth of God's Word and contend for it (Jude 1:3). Yet to do that, we need to know and trust in all of God's Word.

   • Lord, rebuke believers who do not believe all that Moses and the prophets have said (Luke 24:25).

   • God, let the truth that the Tanach revelations are the foundations of all New Testament teachings (2 Tim. 3:15-17) be seen and believed in Your Body as sadly it appears that 2 Corinthians 3:15 applies to too many believers today and not just to unsaved Jews.

   • Abba Father, let the ultimate truth that is revealed in Your Word become the ultimate standard by which we in the Body judge everything that we see, hear and even think (John 17:17).

10. IFI:

    Thank you for continuing to stand with Israel and with us.

Blessings and Shabbat shalom

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Hab. 3:17-19 [From Shabbat's prophetic portion]